Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Tropical Storm GONI StormWatch No. 02

Tropical Storm (TS) GONI upgraded from Tropical Depression (TD) 16W, has continued to strengthen as it approaches the Northern Mariana Islands. GONI is a Korean word for Swan. This storm is expected to pass over the islands tonight and is forecast to intensify into a Typhoon on Sunday evening or Monday morning (Aug 17). Based on the initial Global Dynamic Forecast Models (GDFM), GONI shall enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday afternoon or evening (Aug 18) and could be near or just to the north of the Batanes Group of Islands on Friday, Aug 21st.

As of 5:00 PM PhT (09:00 GMT) today, Saturday, August 15, 2015, the center of GONI was located some 2,340 km East of Bicol Region, Philippines...or 1,185 km East of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) [14.3N 146.0E]...with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness up to 100 kph. It was moving West-Northwest to Northwest at 20 kph towards the Northern Mariana Islands.

TS GONI is still too far away to directly affect any part of the Philippines for the next 6 days..

The next WeatherPhilippines StormWatch on TS GONI will be issued tomorrow evening (Sun Aug 16).

Meanwhile, TD 17W located over Eastern Micronesia or to the right side of TS GONI - also strengthened into a TS named as ATSANI - a Thai word for "lightning flash." This system remains outside of the PAR, and Global Models doesn't show a track towards the Philippines, therefore, ATSANI is not a threat to the Philippine Islands. KIndly check out the latest WPF Graphical Satellite Analysis on this very far storm at http://www.weather.com.ph/news.